Goldencents Completes Derby Preparations

In his final work in preparation for the Kentucky Derby on May 4,
Grade I Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents breezed six furlongs in
1:16.20 Thursday morning at Santa Anita under regular exercise rider
Jonny Garcia, as trainer Doug O’Neill, jockey Kevin Krigger, and several
owners watched from the grandstand.

Working from the half mile pole around the Club House turn to
the three quarter pole, Goldencents was timed through splits of 27.20,
40.20, 51.20 and 1:03, according to Santa Anita clocker, Dane Nelson.

“We had him galloping out seven furlongs in 1:29 and two (fifths) and the mile in 1:43 and two,” said Nelson.

“We try to make his workouts similar to a gallop,” said O’Neill,
who won last year’s Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies with I’ll Have
Another. “We try not to zap him. This is very similar to what he does
every day, just a little quicker.

“I thought he went great. My biggest focus was to have him
finish up stronger than he started off, and he did just that. I got him
in forty (seconds) for the first three furlongs, and thirty six for the
second three furlongs, so he definitely picked it up when Jonny
(Garcia) asked him to, and I liked the gallop out. I’m very happy.

“This is all the ‘tune up’ he needed. He’ll leave here Saturday at about 4 a.m.”

For his part, Krigger was ecstatic about the move and how it was executed.

“Jonny gets along with this horse so well and he gets him to
relax early,” said Krigger, who will be riding in his first-ever
Kentucky Derby. “Ever since the San Felipe (a disappointing fourth
place finish on March 9), Doug has been trying to gear him down and get
him to relax. Jonny did a great job this morning and he finished up
real strong, which is what Doug wanted.”

A 3-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Into Mischief, Goldencents
will attempt to follow in I’ll Have Another’s footsteps and become the
10th Santa Anita Derby winner to go on and win The Run for the Roses at
Churchill Downs.

Older Comments about Goldencents Completes Derby Preparations...

lol Mary Z. I personally find the Derby difficult to handicap. The large field alone can be a factor, and post position can make or break the chances of any colt, no matter how talented. It is horribly difficult to win out of the one hole, for example.

There's no sprinter speed in the race. That leaves Falling Sky, Verranzo, and Goldencents in a very strong position as the controlling speed. with stalkers like Itsmyluckyday sitting pretty too. Orb probably the best dirt horse to come around in years will be at a huge disadvantage, along with the other deep closers. In the Preakness, Belmont, Travers, BCC, I'll take Orb, but not here.

DerekFisher · While I agree there is no stand-out sprinter in the race..Falling Sky has put up some decent fractions in prior races. And when you have a 20 horse field, consisting of the best out there, you just won't get fractions anymore slower than 48 for 1/2..i would say right around 47 sounds right for this group (i know thats the over/under too). It will also depend if one of the team of either verrazano, IMLD, Goldencents, or Oxbow want to just say hell with it and run out to the lead early?! I disagree on Orb though, he isn't a deep closer..he comes off the pace very well, and as long as he is in the top 8 or so on the last turn..i think he gets there. The non-lightning pace will hurt revolutionary and Javas War in my opinion · 673 days ago

Don't get me wrong, I respect what folks say about not getting a distance. But sometimes, I wonder if we're watching the same ponies. People say Shackleford couldn't get 1 1/4 mile? But I submit, 16 of the best three-yr-olds in the world finished behind him on the first Saturday in May, 2011. To me, it's all about the individual's heart.